And where exactly did I post that I am "a good Christian"? And where(for Carlow's benefit) did I once mention the Bible? I arrived at this forum with no preconceptions. What I read dismayed me. But I was intrigued by the tone and the language used. And by the attitude. Now, when I saw this, I rather foolishly thought that I would challenge these qualities. Man, was I onto a loser. I soon realised that I was "speaking" with people who were so sure of this world and its inhabitants that I knew I was in a sort of fantasy land where I would have to try and unpick their fantastical statements. And so the shabby little cyber game began. I do not practise hatred. I love life, my life and all who are in it. I am, like countless others, struggling in this world. And I enjoy the struggle. I enjoy my broken-ness. I enjoy the broken-ness of my relationship with God and my daily struggle to improve it. I simply wish to arrive at a place on this forum where an honest debate can begin.
And what emotion do you think is behind the postings of Carlow, et al. Are you not even a tiny bit intrigued by their surety?
I challenge Carlow to a debate (I didn't wish to have to state the obvious but it's a public debate I was referring to. You say you are comfortable in this public forum. What stops you from debating in front of others?)
And, I repeat, just as it's your take on my beliefs that Im faced with, why should I be surprised when it's similarly your take on my personality you spew out. (Can you see the real hatred, poster?)
Again, I ask you to explain your early absurd statement.
Congratulations, Mr. Swiss! You've made your first foray into a real debate with the word "guilt". Now, can I sugest, as you're such a proficient cyber-sleuth, that you swat up on this concept, come back and tell me what YOU think.
Ah, so now we're getting to the nub of the "issue". Bit by bit, old Carlow and Malta are opening little windows on their past lives and it''s not a pretty sight. There is no objective discusssion of REAL issues here only the desperate psycho-babble one comes across in TV shows where shrinks tell their patients to "open up". So, any so-called meaningful discussion is put through thel emotional blender of their lived (endured?) past lives. And when I ask them direct questions about their statements on this forum their blenders go into poisonous overdrive. They still cannot or will not defend the particular statements because that would be seen too much like echoes of their past when some authority figure looked at them crossly for asking a question. I know countless people who have had unbelievably harsh childhoods but who are now leading happy productive lives. Some are believers, some not but all of them are wise, beautiful and trustworthy people who have, to a fault, a healthy respect for all people on this earth. They do not feel embittered by their experiences but have GROWN. The Swiss correspondent is different from his aforementioned buddies. He is obviously more guarded in his personal history comments and instead prefers to somehow "attack" (you don't know the meaning of the word) me via some sort of cyber-sleuthing whereby he unearths my other postings. Let me just say, I'm dekighted about this as it will enable curious onlookers to see that I do not spit venom. I have asked questions about their seemingly ironclad take on the world and, to a man, they have failed. The Swiss correspondent opts for others to do his thinking and will not say anything about his views. I presume his years have endowed him with some wisdom but I dont know for sure. He hides behind others views. So, all in all, what we have here are a gang of people who find immature comfort in sneering and are either too afraid of the big bad world or simply lash out at in in sad vignettes of their past personal histories. This is what faces anyone who challenges them. P.S. Carlow, as we inhabit the same island, I now challenge you to a debate. You choose the place, date, time.
To the Swiss correspondent: you sneer at my delineation of lazy thinking and then proceed to do the old cut-and-paste job. Interesting turn of events. Instead of dealing with issues of personal discovery, you in-flow copious text from a third party.
To Carlow: you are obviously afraid of your words and refuse to explicate your statement.
To Alabama: your neat semantic hops cannot explain why, if you believe that free will exists in the world, you ungraciously refuse to believe that it is the mystery of that same free will that informs theological debate and proof of God's existence.
To Malta: as you are an ex-Catholic (and I am familiar with their line of non-argument as amply demonstrated by you) I refuse to deal with your particular form of venom
Then I have an honest question for you. Why is it that countless millions of humans derive great comfort and peace from Christianity? Let us forget any apparent nastiness that goes on here for the time being.
I don't know if you miss the point deliberately or are just provocative since,, as you say ,you have so much else to do in your life. Check out your use of words. Any self-respecting fanatic would be proud of them.
You are mistaken. I happen to have no tolerance of general insults without even the consolation of a shred of thought-out argument. Read back further for the 100% vitriol from the sad secularists.
No you are dodging the issue. The issue is your statement. Why are you afraid to defend it? You response is a zero. I wish to hear your defence of your earlier statement. A flaccid "mine is as good as yours" doesen't wash. Who are you trying to kid?!!!
All the seething rage of the sad secularists who ignore any of the issues raised but rather shot blast their vitriol in half-baked thoughts.
I ask you again, Carlow, where did you get your knowledge? Address your statement(its absurdity is staggering even for a secularist):"They're in for an awful shock when they die and realise the errors of their ways and could have had some fun whilst alive". Now I suggest you deal with this here. Be brave about defending what you say you believe and not a reactionary diatribe dotted with expletives.
Thanks, MikeHD, I see them crystal clear. I am only too familiar with the views expressed within. What I dislike, and will give no quarter to, is lazy thinking.
Have you never heard of free will? And if everyone who believes is naive, does it then follow that you are guilty of not standing up and leading mankind with your fiendishly accurate grasp of the truth?
And you possess this knowledge? And how exactly would a person "realise the error of their ways" (you should avoid cliches, it shows laziness)?? You have this knowledge? Is it for sale? Are you selling it?
No, don't look at the bible belt! Why don't you look at yourself? Why not read a little? Why not read up on the many refutations of Dawkins et al? Or does your aforementioned knowledge render that task redundant?
Interesting that you seem to be fond of glib replies. Equally interesting is your mention of the 9th century. I assume you have some knowledge of this period so we'll cut to the chase. I, sir, happen to belong to a nation that produced monks who saved western civilisation from barbarism. This was done via the secret methods of the monk scribes as evidenced in our magnificent Book of Kells. Do you know what the Book of Kells contains?Again I assume you do. It was completed in the 9th century.
Good on you, my friend, for fighting your corner, and, by extension, the good fight! I have been reading over this forum and the same old tired, cynical, seething rage of non-believers comes through again. Same old same old. Why do these people, and the respondent from Carlow, Ireland is a prime example of our home-grown variety, simply ignore the BIGGEST ELEPHANT in the room? Namely, Catholicism is the world's fastest growing religion. I wish I possessed even a quarter of their arcane knowledge that rfutes this. The anti-Catholic resentment in Europe is wll documented. A cursory look at the EU's laws will show this.
Also, I don't believe you're a dunderheid! I loved a Scottish lass once. Met her at the Edinburgh Festival. A lovely woman and you all possess such sweet accents!
penman Forum Posts (46)
RE: When you can’t dent the message, attack the messenger.
I can hear the silence too but it seems to be coming from a different source now.....